Machine for knitting rattan chair-backs



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheetv 1. E. L. TAFT 8v H. M. RICH.

MACHINE FOR KNITTING RATTAN CHAIR BAGKS.

No. 299,295. Patented May 27, 1984.

Figi.

www @www Fig: 2f

1I 7'" y* l w @W 6 W C) m I e f I f i? l H Q Q H 4f,

N. Pzzns. Plwwumngnpw. wam; c.

`(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.`

E: L. TAPT & H. M. RICH.

MACHINE POR KNITTING RATTAN CHAIR BACKS.

No. 29 95. f Patented May A27, 1884.

N, FEYER Phulrrumagrapher. wnhingtun. D c

(No Model.) 6 Sheetsf-Sheet 3.

E. L. TAFT 8v H. M. RICH.

MACHINE FOR KNTTING RATTAN CHAIR BAGKS.

No. 299,295. Patented May 27, R884.

FELL.

Irv/venan" W' t ,Edward fol/@5l 17a/' I I I Jie/@rv Maniac/615005,. MM V N. PETERS.v Phclkwumogmpher. Wnlhinglun. D4 C.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. L. TAPT 8v H. IVI. RICH.

MACHINE FOR KNITTING RATTAN CHAIR BAGKS.

No. 299,295. Patented'May 27, 1884.

EELS.

xml.

n v N l l. A /T Wit 9.5525.

N. PUERS, Pmm-Lixhngmpher. wasmnglun. 0,6.

(No- Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5. E. L. TAFT 8u H. lVI. RICH.

MACHINE FOR KNITTING RATTAN CHAIR BAGKS.

120.2922225. Patented May 27,12 4.

N4 PETtRs, Pholmunwgmpher. waxhingtnn, D, C.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

E. L. TAFT 85H. M. RICH.

MACHINE FOR KNITTING RATTAN CHAIR BAGKS.

No. 299,295. Patented May 27, 1884.

ATTORE EYS Mlilnrren @rares y Farrar firmen.

EDVARD LOVELL TAFT, OF GARDNER, AND HENRY MURDOCK RICH, OF ATHOL, lv'IASSACI-IUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR KNlTTlNG RATTAN CHAlRnACKs.

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent No. 299,295,dated.May 2'7, 1384:.

Application filed October 9, 1883.

.To all w/"wm it may concern:

Beit known that we,EDw.-inn LovELL Tanic, of Gardner, and HENRY MURDocK Bron, of Athol, in the county of Vtorcester, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Knitting Rattan Chair-Backs; and we do hereby declare the same to be described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawings,.which illustrate a machine for the knitting of the portion of a chair-back that usually extends between the posts of such back.

rlhe invention will be first described in connection with the drawings and then pointed out in the claims.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1 is a representation of a piece of the work produced by the machine, such work being like ordinary 2O plain knitting77 from a single strand,wherein each loop, except those of the first and last of the ranges, passes through another loop, and has a second loop extending through it. Fig. 2 is a top view, Fig. 3 a front elevation, and

2 5 Fig. 4 an end view, of the machine. Fig. 5

is a transverse section, and Fig. 6 a longitudinal section, of it, taken through the looper. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section, and Fig. 8 a vertical section, of theV loop-supporting mech- 3o anism, to be described. Fig. 9 is a side view, and Fig. 10 a perspective view, of the pivoted strand holder or coverer and its carrier and the suppciting-standard of the latter. Fig. 11 is a side elevation, and Fig. 12 a rear ele- 3 5 vation, of the looper. Figs. 13 and 14 are opposite side views, and Fig. 15 an edge View, of the grooved cranked cam-wheel G,A hereinafter described. Fig. 16 is an inner side view of the looper-carrier and its slotted plate.

4o Fig. 17 is a top view, Fig. 18 an end elevation, and Fig. 19 a rear View, of the stationary grooved strand-guide, K,hereinafter described. Fig, 20 is a top view, Fig. 21 an inner side elevation, of the movable loop-holding abut- 45 ment L and its sustaining dovetailed slide and its carrier. Fig. 22 is a top view, Fig.

23 a front elevation, and Fig. 24"a side view, ofthe strand-coverer M, hereinafter described. Fig. 25 is an edge View of the wheel N, to be 5o explained. Fig. 26 is a top view of the mechanism for moving the loop-holding abutment (No model.)

L and the strand-coverer M, Fig. 27 being a side view of the grooved cam P of such mechanisni. Fig. 28 is a side elevation., and Fig.

29 an edge view, of the mechanism for insur- 55 ing the position of the work for the looperto enter a loop thereof. Fig. 30 is a perspective View of the machine at work.

In the said drawings, A denotes the table for supporting the main operative parts of 6o the machine, there being within such table, and suitably supported in bearings a a, the driving-shaft B. 'On the said shaft there is fixed a crank-wheel, 0, for operating the loopercarrier D, or imparting to it its vertical movements. This looper-carrier has fixed to it, as shown in Fig. 16, a plate, E, having in it a slot, b, to receive the wrist c of the wheel C. The median curved part of the slot is a circular arc, or is for-med so as to cause the said 7o wrist, while moving in and through it and the looper-carrier is down to its lowest position, to impart to the looper-carrier no vertical motion, such looper-carrier then requiring to be stationary a sufficient time for other elements of the machine to operate in their order.

The looper is shown at F as a rod adapted to slide vertically in the carrier D, and provided with a screw, d, and a nut, e, for clamping it in position relatively to the carrier, 8o which is slotted vertically, as shown at f, to allow of the vertical movements in it of the clamp-screw. At its upper part the looper carries a grooved wheel, g, pivoted to it and arranged with it, and with a shoulder, h, formed in it, in manner as represented. The looper has two grooves, i, in its opposite sides, extending down therein, as shown, such grooves being to receive the strand while the loop is being formed, and to properly keep apart the 9o the two side portions or ilanks of the loop.

In the drawings, G represents a chair-seat having extended from it in the usual manner two back posts, k k, between which the knit fabric is formed by the machine, a. series of starting-loops being first projected from the said seat at suitable distances apart. Immediately after each range of loops is completed, its extreme side or selvage loops are to be secured to the posts by nails or staples. seat is fastened by screws to a spider, Z, so pivoted to a pendulous arm, m, as to admit of The roo the chair-frame being turned upward or downward in or about in a vertical plane. This arm 1s pivoted to a slider, u, adapted to encompass and slide vertically on a post, o, projecting upward from a rectangular plate, p.

' A set-screw, q, screwed into the slider a and against the post, serves to fix the slider at any proper altitude on the post. The plate p is movable horizontally in a bracket, a', and between parallel guides s s thereof, such bracket being adjustable vertically, as shown. There is in the bracket along its middle a series of holes, t, they being arranged at distances apart equal or about equal to the length of a loop to be made. A pin, a, going through the plate p and into one of the said holes, determines the position of the plate for the formation of a range of loops. After each range of loops is made, the slide is to be moved backward a suitable distance for the next succeeding range to be produced, the pin and one of the holes being used to hold the slide in its required position. As the fabric is usually curved transversely or acrossthe back of the chair, the arm m should be pivoted to the slider n, so that the chair-holding frame can be swung on There is clamped to the chair-seat and posts a metallic frame, H, which, arranged with such seat and parts in manner as shown, has its two opposite side bars, e c, formed as toothed racks to receive two pinions, w a, carried by a shaft, x, provided at one end with a crank, y, as shown. The shaft is supported in a carriage, l, that rests on the two racks, and is adapted to slide on them lengthwise of them. This carriage consists of two uprights, z z, `and a connecting-bar, a', such bar being extended from one to the other of the two uprights and fastened to them. By revolving the crank f1, the carriage I and the parts supported by it can be moved toward or away from the chairseat, as occasion may require.

The bar a extends through a series of slides, b', each of which is not only provided with a set-screw, c', for fixing it to the bar, but has applied to its front edge and held thereto by a set-screw, d', a bar or standard, e, the setscrew admitting of the said bar or standard being inclined more or less from a vertical line, as circumstances may require. There are to be as many of these slides as there are loops formed. There is fixed to each bar or stand- 'ard e a curved spring, f formed and arranged with the bar in manner as represented, the purpose and operation of said spring being hereinafter explained. Furthermore, there is to slide lengthwise on each standard e a slider, g, carrying a U-shaped tongue, h, which is hinged to the slider so as to be capable of being turned from a'horizontal into an upright position. This tongue has in its outer periphery a shallow groove, to receive a loop when against such periphery, the tongue being part of the mechanism for supporting the loop.

In order to hold the sliders g from dropping off their standards e, there is pivoted to the slides b a cranked shaft, 02, provided with spring catches or pawls 102, to take into notches gL in the sliders g. There is such a pawl to each of the said sliders. By properly turning the shaft the pawls may be forced out of the notches, to allow of the sliders being moved downward.

To operate with the parts as above described there are othersviz., the stationary groovcd strandguide K, the movable loop -holding abutment L, and the strand-coverer M.

The strand-guide K is a table or rectangular plate supported by legs or suitable means, it having in it two circular holes, 7c and Z, the latterof which is for reception of the looper, which works upward and downward in it.

lExtending across the plate, and in range with the diameter of the hole Z', is a deep groove, a', for the reception of the strand of rattan. There are also in the plate two parallel slots,

o o', that extend from near the groove to and l through one edge of the plate, in manner as shown, such slot being to receive the two upright posts p of the strand-coverer M.

The movable loop holding abutment L, notched vertically, as shown at p2, and slotted transversely, as shown at q', projects in manner as represented from a sustaining dove tailed slide or plate, r', adapted to a carriage or carrier, s', so as to slide therein transversely thereof, and upon and off the top ofthe strandguide K. The carrier s is so adapted to the table of the machine as to be capable of sliding thereon rectilinearly and horizontally in a direction at right angles to that of the movement of the'plate r', such carrier s being arranged between and against parallel guides t' t.

A long bar, a, jointed to the carrier s, can, by means of, a screw or pin, o', be pivoted to either arm of a rocker-lever, w/, arranged as shown, and fulcrumed at its center to the table-top. A'stud, x', extends down from one arm of the said rocker-lever into a camgroove, y', formed on the periphery of a wheel, N, that is iixed on the driving-shaft, an edge view of such wheel and its cam-groove being shown in Fig. 25, which is continuous around the wheel. This groove has two oblique deiiections, d a2, between and from which the groove is parallel to the side of the wheel. The deiiecting parts of the groove cause,.with the stud x, the carrier s to have imparted to it its .reciprocating rectilinear movements, it being at rest while the stud may be in the other portions of the groove. While each range or rowv IOO IZO

a slotted T-piece, Q, formed, as represented, upon the part c2 oi'- which the coverer slides lengthwise. rIhis l`piece extends underneath the slide-plate r', and is fastened thereto by a clamp-screw, d2, that goes down through a short slot, c?, in such plate and screws into the shank of the T-piece, the screw having a shoulder to rest on the top of the said plate r'.

The mechanism for advancing .and retracting the loop-holding abutment L and the strand-carrier M may be thus described, it being shown in Figs. 26 and 27 Extending down from the plate o", and through a slot, j, in the carrier s, is a projection, g2, which is v pivoted to an arnnz?, that extends from and slides lengthwise on a round rod, i?, supported by two arms, It k2, projecting' from a horizontal shaft, Z2, suitably supported on bearings m2 m2, projecting from the table A. From one end of the said shaft Z2 an arm, n, extends, and is provided with a friction-roller or stud, o2, which enters the groove p3 of a cam, P.

, The projection g2 goes down through a slot or ygroove of the U-shaped tongue 7i'.

opening in the table-top, such slot being of sufiicient size to allow of the movement-s of the projection.

The next part of the machine to be described is the mechanism for insuring the position of the work for the looper to enter each loop thereof at the proper time, such mechanism being particularly exhibited in edge and side elevations in Figs. 28 and 29. Each of the standards e is notched or forked at its lower end to receive a wedge-pointed stud, It, that extends up through the hole r/ of the strandguide K. The said stud It is supported by a carrier, r2, adapted to slide vertically on a stationary pin, s2, and having a stud or friction-roller, t2, to enter the groove a2 of a camwheel, G, fixed on the driving-shaft. At the proper time the wedge-pointed stud R is forced upwardl between the prongs of the furcation oi' the standard c', and by acting against them not only insures the standard being in a correct position, but holds it there the necessary time for it to be kept so.

The operation of the machine may be thus described: The strand of rattan being inserted in and extended through the groove n of the strand-guide K, and the series of U-shaped tongues h being down in horizontal positions within the several starting-loops, the wedgepointed stud R is to be driven upward into the furcation of that standard c which may be directly over the first loop of the range of starting-loops. Next, the movable loop-holding abutment L is moved up to the loop, so as to cause the loop to project a short distance into the slot q of the said abutment, in which casel the loop will extend into the shallow Next, the looper F is to be moved upward. In rising, the grooved wheel g of such looper impinges against the strand, and as the looper continues to rise the strand will be raised by it in the form of a loop, the looper in the meantime forcing upward into a vertical position the U-shaped tongue h, that may be in the starting -loop. As the looper continues to rise, its shoulder h will be carried into contact with the lower edge of the said tongue IL, and will force such tongue and slider g thereof upward. rlhe looper will also be forced against the spring f in front of such tongue, the said spring giving way to allow the looper to move upward. The looper having completed its rise, the slider g will, bya catch or pawl, ai, of the cranked shaft t2, be held from descending during the depression of the looper, which next takes place. As the looper passes downward and leaves the loop, the spring j" rctracts and bears the said loop over upon the periphery ot' the U-shaped tongue 71, and holds it thereon. After this the looper continues its descent to its lowest position. On the looper having so gone down, the wedgepointed stud R descends out of the'fnrcation of the bar e, releasing such standards, so that the chair and its attachments are free to swing. At this point the carrier s and abutment L are moved together lengthwise of the table by the bar u', as described, the T-piece Q sliding through the strand-coverer, the latter remaining stationary. The chair-carrying frame is swung at the same time, the loop in the abutment moving with the latter, and the next loop brought over the looper. Next, the wedgepointed stud R rises as before, the abutment L recedes from the loop held within it, and the strand-coverer M is drawn back with it, so as to carry its lips b2 over and upon the strand, beyond the newly-formed loop, the coverer holding the strand for the next loop to be made. rlhe abutment Land carrier s are then moved backwardlongitudinally of the table, and the abutment L is brought in toward the loops, the second loop being received into the slot q and the cover M withdrawn from the strand and placed into position for the next stroke. rlhe looper next rises and forms a loop through the second loop. In this way loop after loop is made throughoutl the range. The range having been completed, the abutment L is to be retracted far enough to allow of the last loop of the starting-loops being disengaged from such abutment. The said loop having been raised or moved up sufficiently, the work is to be next moved back far enough fora succeeding range of loops to be made. This is accomplished by removing the pin u from the plate p and sliding such plate on the bracketV r the necessary distance, after which the pin is to be inserted in the plate and the bracket, so as to hold the plate in place. Next, the cranked shaft o'l is to be turned so as to release the catches or pawls @v2 from the sliders g'. Next, the metallic frame H is to be moved, so as to cause the range of loops last formed to be drawn down into a horizontal position. In going down, each loop will draw its U- shaped tongue down with it, and both will leave the spring by'which they were upheld. Next, the bar a is to be disengaged from the arm of the rocker-lever w', and kept so until,

IOO

Iron

IZO

the first loop of the next range has been made, which, having been accomplished, the said bar u is to be engaged with the other arm of the said lever w in order that the feeding of the Work may be reversed.

We claiml. The combina-tion ofthe stationary strandguide K, and the looper F, the series of standards e', sliders g', U-shaped tongues h, the

series of springs f', the movable loop-holding abutment L, and the strand-coverer M, provided with mechanism for operating them ,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the Wedge-pointed stud R, having mechanism for operating it, substantially as described, with the stationary strand-guide K, and the movable looper F, the series of U-shaped tongues, their carrying-slides, and the furcated sustaining-bars e thereof, the springs f, the movable loop-holding abutment L, and the strand-coverer M, provided With mechanism for operating them, essentially as represented..

3. The combination of the metallic frame H, having toothed racks, as set forth, and the carriage I, having a cranked shaft, w, and pinions ww, to operate with the said racks, as described, with the stationary strand-guideK, and with the series of slides b', standards e', curved springs f, sliders g', U-shaped tongues h, the movable looper F, loop-holding abutment L, and strand-coverer M, having mechanism for operating them, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the chair-seat and post supporting and operating mechanism, substantially as described, (consisting of the spider, the pendulous arm,'the vertical slide, and adjustable post, arranged and adapted as set forth,) with mechanism substantially as represented, for knitting Work or a chair-back between the posts of a chair, as explained.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, EB. PRATT. 

